Post-Licensure BSN Program Track
(ADN-BSN)(Previously known as the “RN-BSN Program”)

For the California licensed Registered Nurse with an Associate Degree in Nursing and current ADN student seeking to begin the Post-Licensure BSN Program after ADN graduation and RN licensure (Traditional or “TPOST” student)

For current ADN students enrolled at CNECM Partners SRJC, NVC, COM, MC, or SCC interested in an “early start” to Post-Licensure BSN Coursework during ADN studies (CNECM or “CPOST”student)

The Post-Licensure BSN program track builds on the strong foundation of ADN education and utilizes the maximum community college transfer credits from the ADN program to meet the BSN degree requirements. The curriculum enhances existing nursing knowledge and skills with study of complex professional perspectives, multifaceted health assessment, community/public health theory and clinical, research and evidence-based-practice, leadership and management, and sociopolitical perspectives in the health care environment.

Nursing courses are delivered in a hybrid format (in classroom and online) or entirely online with minimal requirements for on campus meetings (usually at beginning and/or end of semester). The hybrid format of course delivery provides access to BSN education specifically for ADN students and ADN educated Registered Nurses in the Sonoma State University service area. It is not intended or delivered as a “distance education” program for residents in other areas of the state or nation. No clinical or theory courses that were completed for the ADN are repeated and the only required clinical is the community/public health practicum (one full day per week over one 15-week semester). Community/public health clinical placements are only available in the SSU service area and may require travel. Placement for community/public health clinical cannot be guaranteed in the student’s county of residence.

Completion of BSN requirements is possible in two semesters of full-time enrollment at SSU for the ADN graduate who has completed all lower division SSU General Education requirements before full university admission to the Post-Licensure BSN program.

Complete details of the Post-Licensure BSN Program Track curriculum plan are available for current community college students who intend to first complete an ADN and then complete the BSN. All ADN and ADN-BSN requirements are depicted in the ADN-BSN Roadmaps for each of the five SSU service area community colleges to assist students in planning their academic progression and also included in the ADN-BSN Summary Guide.

Complete details of the Post-Licensure BSN Program Track curriculum plan are available for current nurses who have previously completed an ADN and seek admission to the program. BSN degree requirements are depicted on the ADN-BSN Summary Guide.

All TPOST and CPOST students enroll in their respective full-time Academic Program Plan (see Resources, Post-Licensure BSN). There is currently no option for part-time enrollment in either program plan. If you require a part-time option, please seek admission to other RN-BSN programs (see last question in the FAQs section).

California licensed RN's and current ADN students who will have graduated and have RN licensure by August 15th of their admission year may apply for admission to the Post-Licensure BSN Program Track to begin in Fall term ONLY. This is the Traditional Post-Licensure BSN (TPOST) academic pathway for an ADN educated nurse. Note that university and Nursing Department applications are due by November 30th of the year preceding Fall semester admission to the program.

Current (Fall 2014) first semester-first year ADN Students enrolled at CNECM partners may apply for admission ONLY to the SSU Department of Nursing for the CNECM while currently in good standing in their respective ADN programs. The application period is January 15 – March 15 of your first year in your ADN program. DO NOT APPLY to SSU for Fall 2015 admission. Upon SSU Nursing Department admission for Summer 2015, students begin Upper Division Nursing coursework between the first and second year of their ADN program. Current first semester-first year ADN students enrolled at SRJC, COM, NVC, SCC, or MC and interested in this option should review application and admission information specific to the CNECM Program. This is the CNECM Post-Licensure BSN (CPOST) Academic Program Plan for ADN students and is simply an “early start” to Upper Division Nursing coursework for the BSN. Students enrolled in the second, third or fourth semester of their ADN program in Fall 2014 are not eligible for the CNECM (CPOST) option and should follow directions for TPOST application for Fall 2015 or thereafter.

Current CNECM students who complete Nurs 312 in Summer 2014 must apply to the university and to the Nursing Department for Fall 2015 admission. Follow instructions under “Application and Admission” and pay specific attention to the following:

Failure to meet the university application deadline and/or the Nursing Supplemental Application deadline (November 30, 2014) will result in not being able to continue the Upper Division Nursing coursework at SSU although you may still enroll in Nurs 313 in the Summer after completion of your ADN. Make certain to mark the major category on the university application as “Nursing with RN” (major code 12032) even though you do not yet have your RN license. You are applying to the Post-Licensure BSN program which is coded as “Nursing with RN.”

If you are a second baccalaureate student, DO NOT attempt to submit the university application, but submit the Nursing Supplemental Application for the Post-Licensure BSN Program (processing fee waived) and you will receive directions in email for completing the university application by March 1, 2015.

Application and Admission

Interested RNs and current ADN students who will graduate from an ADN program and hold RN licensure prior to August 15th next year, should attend the scheduled Information and Academic Advising Session at SSU to thoroughly review requirements, clarify personal academic history in relation to BSN degree requirements and have questions answered.

The Faculty Academic Advisors for the Post-Licensure BSN Program are not available for individual prospective student appointments or review of transcripts; when admitted to the program, each student is assigned an Academic Advisor for academic program planning purposes. Prospective students are expected to utilize the array of online resources on this website specifically prepared to support self-evaluation of degree requirements and to attend the Information and Academic Advising Session for further clarification and to have questions addressed. Subsequent questions or special circumstances may be directed to liz.close@sonoma.edu with the subject line “Post-Licensure BSN Program Track Question.”

University (SSU) Transfer Admission Criteria specific to BSN

Minimum of 60 semester units of college-transferable credit with at least a 3.0 overall GPA; maximum of 70 units of approved transfer credit from community college level coursework is allowed to count toward baccalaureate degree.

30 units should meet Sonoma State University General Education (GE) requirements for transfer including the following also required as CSU Systemwide Nursing Program Admission Prerequisites (CSU Executive Order 1084, Attachment A)

ALL of GE Area A (Speech/Oral Communication, English Composition/Written Communication, and Critical Thinking)

ALL of GE Area B (Physical Science, Biological Science, and Quantitative Reasoning/Math).
The CSU quantitative reasoning/math requirement, Area B4, is satisfied by a course beyond Intermediate Algebra which is required for the ADN. Statistics is required for the BSN and meets the CSU B4 requirement.
The CSU General Education Requirements for Area B (except Area B4 Math/Statistics) are usually met by the prerequisite science courses required for the Associate Degree in Nursing (chemistry, anatomy, physiology, and microbiology).
Note that the prerequisite requirement for chemistry is a general, inorganic, organic or integrated chemistry (with associated lab if required at the institution where the course was taken).

30 units must be credit for lower-division nursing course work (nursing coursework at California community college programs meets and exceeds this requirement).

Second baccalaureate applicants must meet the CSU Systemwide Nursing Program Admission Prerequisites listed above, however, may have one course in Area A (such as Critical Thinking) met with the existing baccalaureate degree.

APPLICATION to the University is required and due November 30, 2014 for admission to the Post-Licensure BSN Program (both TPOST and CPOST tracks) in Fall 2015. Mark “Nursing with RN” as major on the university application (major code 12032).

Department of Nursing Admission Criteria

The SSU BSN Program is on official CSU Impacted Status and, in addition to university admission criteria, the following admission criteria for the Post-Licensure BSN Program Track (TPOST and CPOST) are in effect. Current ADN students interested applying to the CNECM must also meet all of the following requirements.

Minimum of 60 semester units of college-transferable credit with a minimum 3.0 overall GPA; a maximum of 70 units from community college level coursework is allowed.

Current California licensure as a Registered Nurse (or anticipated graduation from a California ADN program no later than Spring 2015 with RN licensure by August 15, 2015).

Minimum of 3 semester units of college-transferable credit in chemistry with a grade C or better (any chemistry taken as prerequisite to the ADN program is acceptable for the BSN, however, if not taken at college level, it would not meet the SSU GE Area B1 Physical Science requirement and the student would need to complete a B1 qualified chemistry course prior to admission).

Human anatomy and physiology within the past 10 years or documented direct patient care nursing experience within the past two years.

Preference for admission will be given to applicants with the fewest number of lower division SSU GE requirements outstanding. CSU GE Certification or IGETC certification is highly recommended (Community College Education Counselors are authorized to assist you with these certifications).

Preference for admission to the Post-Licensure BSN program will be given to qualified applicants residing in SSU service area counties (Sonoma, Napa, Solano, Marin, Lake, and Mendocino).

Admission to SSU.

APPLICATION to the Nursing Department is required and due November 30, 2014 for admission to the Post-Licensure BSN Program (both TPOST and CPOST tracks) in Fall 2015. Mark “Nursing with RN” as major on the university application (major code 12032)

TPOST (Traditional Post-Licensure BSN Program Track)For the California licensed Registered Nurse with an Associate Degree in Nursing and current ADN student seeking to begin the Post-Licensure BSN Program after ADN graduation and RN licensure (Traditional or “TPOST” student)

Two separate applications are required for admission to the SSU POST-LICENSURE BSN Program: the regular SSU (university) Application and the Nursing Supplemental Application for the Post-Licensure BSN Program. Both applications are available AFTER mid-October.

The University (SSU) Application (via CSU Mentor) is due by November 30, 2014 for Fall 2015 admission. Mark the major category as “Nursing with RN” (major category code 12032) if you are, or plan to be, licensed by Fall 2015. This application is submitted electronically.
If you have a previous baccalaureate degree (“second baccalaureate applicant”), please see special instructions below; you are not permitted to electronically submit an application to SSU in the regularly scheduled university online application period.

The Nursing Supplemental Applicationmust be submitted by November 30, 2014. Admitted students will begin the Post-Licensure BSN program in Fall 2015. This is a paper application the applicant prints from the SSU Nursing Department website and submits in hard copy.

To be considered for admission to the SSU Post Licensure BSN Program all applicants must:

Submit designated applications to BOTH to SSU and to the Nursing Department

Be admitted by both the university and the Nursing Department.

Second baccalaureate TPOST applicants (applicants with a bachelor’s degree in a field other than nursing)cannot apply for admission to the University because, except for nurses with prior baccalaureate degrees, the university does not admit “second baccalaureate” students. In order to apply and be considered for Fall 2015 admission to the Post-Licensure BSN program track, you must submit the Nursing Supplemental Application by November 30, 2014. If you are admitted by the Nursing Department, you will receive your Department admission letter and further directions in email no later than March 1, 2015, on how to complete the university application process.

CPOST (CNECM Post-Licensure BSN Program Track)

For current ADN Students enrolled at CNECM Partners SRJC, NVC, COM, MC, or SCC who have been admitted to the SSU Nursing Department and have completed Nurs 312.

Two separate applications are required for admission to the SSU POST-LICENSURE BSN Program: the regular SSU (university) Application and the Nursing Supplemental Application for the POST-LICENSURE BSN Program. Both applications are available AFTER mid-October.

The University (SSU) Application (via CSU Mentor) must be submitted by November 30, 2014 for Fall 2015 admission. Mark the major category as Nursing with RN (major code 12032). This application is submitted electronically. If you have a previous baccalaureate degree (“second baccalaureate applicant”), please see special instructions below; you are not permitted to electronically submit an application to SSU in the regularly scheduled university online application period.

The Nursing Supplemental Application must be submitted by November 30, 2014. Admitted students continue the Post-Licensure BSN program in Fall 2015 after completing Nurs 313 in the Summer 2015 term. This is a paper application the applicant prints from the Nursing website and submits in hard copy. The processing fee is waived due to prior payment for the Nursing Department CNECM program application.

To be considered for admission to the SSU Post Licensure BSN Program all applicants must:

Submit applications to BOTH the University and the Department of Nursing, and

Be admitted by both the university and the Nursing Department.

CPOST/CNECM students who will have completed Nurs 313 by the end of summer 2015 must apply to the university and be admitted for Fall 2015in order to continue in the program. You must also re-submit a Nursing Supplemental Application (processing fee is waived) by November 30, 2014. Your official transcripts should only be submitted to the university as part of the university application (the Nursing Department does NOT require official or unofficial transcripts to be sent directly to the department in this application round).

Second baccalaureate CPOST applicants (applicants with a bachelor’s degree in a field other than nursing)cannot apply for admission to the University because, except for nurses with prior baccalaureate degrees, the university does not admit “second baccalaureate” students. In order to be formally admitted for Fall 2015 you must submit the Nursing Supplemental Application by November 30, 2014. No later than March 1, 2015 in email you will receive your Department admission letter and further directions on how to complete the university application process.

CNECM (current ADN students) Starting Summer 2015

Current (Fall 2014) first semester ADN students enrolled at a CNECM partner school submit ONLY the Nursing Supplemental CNECM Application from January 15 – March 15, 2015. The application will be available January 15, 2015. DO NOT apply to the university or to the Post-Licensure BSN program for Fall 2015 admission. If admitted to the CNECM for Summer 2015, you will apply to both the university and to the Nursing Department by November 30, 2015 for Fall 2016 program admission. To qualify for admission to the CNECM you must meet all of the Department of Nursing Post-Licensure BSN Admission Criteria (except ADN degree and RN licensure) and all of the university admission criteria except you do not need to have completed the ADN or be licensed when applying.

Post-Licensure BSN Program Track applicants (TPOST and CPOST) are expected to review all available information on this site and linked pages prior to contacting the nursing department with questions or special circumstances. After so doing, if you have remaining questions or need clarification, please address to liz.close@sonoma.edu with subject line “Post-Licensure BSN Question.”